Hackers Paid $11K to Free Ring Cameras From Amazon Control

When you buy a Ring camera to protect your home, you might not realize you're also giving Amazon unlimited access to your front porch footage.

The Fulu Foundation wants to change that. This nonprofit, founded by tech repair advocate Louis Rossman, is offering $11,000 to hackers who can modify Ring cameras to work completely offline, without ever sending data to Amazon's servers.

The challenge is simple but powerful. Anyone who successfully creates a software modification that lets Ring owners store their footage locally and control their cameras through their own computers can claim the bounty. The solution needs to work with readily available tools on Ring models released after 2021.

"People who own security cameras bought them to make their homes more secure," the Fulu bounty explains. "But without control of the video those cameras generate, Ring owners might actually be making them less so."

The bounty has already struck a chord with supporters. David, who doesn't even own a Ring camera, donated $10 simply to "help the cause." The foundation is matching donations up to $10,000, showing how seriously they take this mission.

Fulu cofounder Kevin O'Reilly told Wired that recent events have helped people understand what they've given up. "People who install security cameras are looking for more security, not less," he said. "At the end of the day, control is at the heart of security."

The foundation isn't just targeting Ring cameras. It also has active bounties for Xbox Series X consoles and GE refrigerator water filters, all focused on removing features that benefit corporations more than owners.

The Bright Side

This movement represents something bigger than hacking cameras. It's about reclaiming ownership of the devices we buy and bringing real choice back to consumers.

The bounty system creates an opportunity for skilled technicians to get paid for helping everyday people take control of their property. Anyone can contribute to the fund, turning individual frustration into collective action.

More importantly, it's sparking conversations about what ownership actually means in 2025. When you buy a security camera, shouldn't you truly own it, including the footage it records of your own home?

The growing support shows that people are ready for devices that work for them, not for corporate data collection.